ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Science & Technology
A tough novel species of Muraingrass identified by scientists in the plateaus of Western Ghats of Goa
The new species has been named Ischaemum janarthanamii in honour of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam, a Goa University Professor known for his contribution to Indian grass taxonomy
A new species of Indian Muraingrasses known for their ecological and economic importance, such as fodder, have been spotted by scientists in Goa in the Western Ghats, one of the four global biodiversity hotspots of India. The species has adapted to survive harsh conditions, low nutrient availability, and blossoms every monsoon.
Globally 85 species are known from Ischaemum, of which 61 species are exclusively found in India. The Western Ghats have 40 species with the highest concentration of the genus.
Agharkar Research Institute , Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, has been exploring the biodiversity of the Western Ghats for last few decades.
A team led by Dr. Mandar Datar and Dr.Ritesh Kumar Choudhary from ARI has been working on relationships among different groups of plants and their evolutionary development  of Indian Muraingrasses  to document the diversity and report novel species. The team discovered a novel species named Ischaemumjanarthanamiifrom plateaus of Western Ghats of Goa, and a research paper describing this species was published recently in Annales BotaniciFennici, a Finland based journal.
During their explorations on lateritic outcrops  of Goa, the ARI team collected an interesting specimen of the species. Careful observations and critical morphological studies identified the species as a novel one. The species was named Ischaemumjanarthanamiiin honour of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam, Professor of Botany, Goa University, for his contribution to the Indian grass taxonomy and documentation of the floristic diversity of Goa state.
The first collection of this new species was made in the 2017 monsoon. The population was kept under observation for the next two years to confirm the consistency of its characters. Morphological and molecular data of the species were used to confirm the novelty of the species.
Ischaemumjanarthanamii grows on low altitude lateritic plateaus in the outskirts of Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Goa. The vegetation is exposed to extreme climatic conditions like desiccation in drier months and soils with low nutrient availability. However, withstanding these, the species has adapted to survive harsh conditions and blossom every monsoon.
[Publication link:https://doi.org/10.5735/085.057.0415
For further details, Dr. Mandar Datar, Scientist, Biodiversity and Palaeobiology Group, and Dr. PK Dhakephalkar, Director , ARI, Pune,  can be contacted.]
Competition Commission of India
CCI approves acquisition of METRO Cash and Carry India Private Limited by Reliance Retail Ventures Limited
The Competition Commission of India  approves acquisition of METRO Cash and Carry India Private Limited by Reliance Retail Ventures Limited
The proposed combination involves acquisition of 100% of the issued and paid-up equity share capital of METRO Cash and Carry India Private Limited  by the Reliance Retail Ventures Limited .
The Acquirer is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited. The Acquirer, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is engaged in the wholesale and retail sale of products across categories such as food and groceries, d0urable goods and apparel and footwear in India.
The Target is engaged in the business of cash and carry wholesale trading in India.
Detailed order of the CCI will follow.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Development of Rural Household Storage Facilities
As per the study report of Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology , an Institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research , based on survey conducted during the year 2013-14, the annual harvest and post-harvest losses of major food grains ranges from 4.65 to 5.99%. The details are given in Annexure-I.
Ministry of Agriculture and farmers Welfare through Krishi Vigyan Kendra  is involved in the capacity development of farmers and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills on modern technologies including scientific storage of foodgrains at farm level.
Government is also promoting scientific storage facilities as per the specification prescribed by Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority  in rural areas of the country through the scheme of “Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure ”, which is a sub-scheme under the Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing . AMI scheme is a back ended capital subsidy scheme in which rate of subsidy provided is 25% and 33.33% based on the category of eligible beneficiary and provided on capital cost of the project. Assistance under the sub-scheme is available to Individual, Group of farmers/growers, Registered Farmer Produce Organizations  etc. Since inception of scheme and Upto 31.03.2019, a total of 38,964 storage infrastructure projects , with storage capacity of 65.54 million MT were sanctioned under AMI sub-scheme  of ISAM.
To meet any contingency situation, a strategic reserve of 20 Lakh MT of rice and 30 Lakh MT of wheat is maintained at national level at different Food Corporation of India  godowns, out of the foodgrains procured at MSP.
This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Danve Raosaheb Dadarao in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Jal Jeevan Mission- Urban Designed to Cover all Cities in the Country
Competition Among Cities to Become more Water Secure
Minimising Water Distribution Losses one of the Focus Areas
Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has stated that the Jal Jeevan Mission  ) is designed to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households. He added that JJM-U will lead to competition among cities to become more water secure and will create more awareness and sensitivity towards water conservation.
Shri Mishra said while launching the Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan last evening that based on the learnings of the pilot, this survekshan will be extended to all the AMRUT cities. The mission will further work towards minimising water distribution losses to reduce non revenue water from current 40-50% to nearly 20%. Improving water quality is a major component of the mission so that the objective of ‘drink from tap’ can be realized. Further, treatment and reuse of waste water generated will be another important focus area.
Pilot on Pey Jal Survekshan has been launched in 10 cities namely Agra, Badlapur, Bhubaneswar, Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, Surat and Tumkur. Pey Jal Survekshan will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies with respect to quantity and quality of water through a challenge process. Mission will be monitored through a technology-based platform on which beneficiary response will be monitored along with progress and output-outcome.
Jal Jeevan Mission  ) is designed to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all 4,378 statutory towns in accordance with SDG Goal- 6. Sewerage/septage management in 500 AMRUT cities with the objective of making them water secure are the major focus areas under JJM. Estimated gap in urban household tap connections is 2.68 crore and estimated gap in sewer connections/septage in 500 AMRUT cities is 2.64 crore, which is proposed to be covered in JJM. The total outlay proposed for JJM is ₹2,87,000 crore which includes ₹10,000 crore for continuing financial support to AMRUT Mission.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
National Launch of 10 Year Rural Sanitation Strategy 
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation , Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI launched the 10 Year Rural Sanitation Strategy , which focus on sustaining the sanitation behavior change that has been achieved under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen , ensuring that no one is left behind, and increasing access to solid and liquid waste management.
Since the launch of the SBM-G in 2014, over 10 crore toilets have been built in rural areas; over 5.9 lakh villages, 699 districts, and 35 States/UTs have declared themselves Open Defecation Free . This strategy has been prepared by DDWS, in consultation with State Governments and other stakeholders, and it lays down a framework to guide local governments, policy makers, implementers and other relevant stakeholders in their planning for ODF Plus, where everyone uses a toilet, and every village has access to solid and liquid waste management.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon'ble Union Minister, Jal Shakti Mantralay, launched the strategy and said, “This strategy book is a framework to sustain the efforts of the SBM-G. The country has demonstrated unprecedented progress and all States and Union Territories have declared their rural areas open defecation free  – a befitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary. I’d like to express my gratitude towards the State Governments for their efforts to achieve this goal. It is because of the SBM-G that India is now an inspiration, in terms of sanitation, for other countries.”
Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, said “India has seen a sanitation revolution, and the SBM-G transformed itself into a jan andolan .The 10 year strategy focuses on the need for States/UTs to continue their efforts to sustain the gains of the mission through capacity strengthening, IEC , organic waste management, plastic waste management, grey water management and black water management. ”
The strategy also speaks about potential collaborations with development partners, civil society and inter-government partnerships. It also highlights innovative models for sanitation financing.
As we prepare to dedicate a Swachh Bharat to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary on 2nd October 2019, the State Governments have been advised to ensure that no one is left behind, and in case any household does not have access to a toilet, they be facilitated to build a toilet on priority.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari inspects the progress of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway being developed at total cost of Rs 4200 crore
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari today inspected the progress of Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway . This 109 km long greenfield corridor is being developed at a total cost of ₹4200 crore.
It will act as an important route to connect Ahmedabad and Dholera and connect several special investment zones of Dholera to Ahmedabad. This expressway will enable high speed travel between Ahmedabad and Dholera and reduce the travel time to about 1 hour . Will also provide direct connectivity to the airport at Dholera.
The route connects Sarkhej via Dholera International Airport at Navagam and Sardar Patel Ring Road near Dholera Special Investment Region . This expressway will also prove helpful in accelerating industrial activities in Ahmedabad and Dholera.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
FDI in FPI Sector
Foreign Direct Investment policy and data is looked after by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade . The total FDI received in the food processing sector since April 2000 till November 2021 was US$ 10.88billion.
As per information received from DPIIT, some of the major companies that invested in the Indian food processing sector includes; B.S.A. INTERNATIONAL, Belgium; CADBURY SCHWEPPES MAURITIUS LTD, Mauritius; UNILEVER PLC, United Kingdom; Orkla Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore; DANNONE ASIA PACIFIC HOLDINGS LTD, Singapore; ROQUETTE FRERES, France; RELAY B.V., Netherland; PEPSICO PANIMEX INC, Mauritius, etc.
Data related to credit is released by the Reserve Bank of India. Accordingly, the share of credit to food processing sector in total credit to industry since 1990 till March 2021 was 5.37% .
This information was given by Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today
Ministry of Law and Justice
Cyber Jaagrookta Campaign organised by the Department of Legal Affairs
The Cyber Security Cell, Department of Legal Affairs organised Cyber Jaagrookta  Diwas from 7th November to 18th November 2022, for propagating cyber hygiene via a mass awareness campaign. Further, to educate the staff and officers of the Department regarding the vulnerabilities in the digital domain, a sensitisation workshop was conducted so that they can keep themselves abreast of the current trends.
In view of the significance of digital transformation and to ensure the active and secure participation of all in the digital space, the Department of Legal Affairs observed Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas in multiple rounds ranging from the informational posters on cyber security tips in the corridors and circulating DOS & DON’Ts to all sections.
Cyber Security Awareness Workshop for the officers & staff of the Department was conducted on 11th November 2022, wherein, guest speakers, Dr. Pavan Duggal, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, Founder & Chair of International Commission on Cyber Security Law & Founder-cum-Chancellor of Cyber Law University and Shri V.T.V. Ramanna, Deputy Director General, National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology graced the event. The speakers deliberated on laws pertaining to cyber security and enlightened the audience on the implications and impact of cybercrime on society. An interactive Q&A session followed as part of the workshop.
As part of the Cyber Jaagrookta activities focused Social Media Campaign and a Cyber Quiz in association with MyGov was launched to generate awareness among the public regarding Cyber Safety, Cyber Hygiene, Cyber frauds, Phishing, Bullying, Virus attacks etc. To inculcate awareness among netizens regarding social media content targeting the end-user, best practices have been disseminated across all the social media platforms of the Ministry of Law & Justice.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Shri Anurag Thakur congratulates athletes for crossing 100 mark in medals in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in China
PM Modi's vision and the facilities provided by him, and the hard work and determination of our players made sure that India won 100 medals: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur
Union Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs congratulated Athletes for crossing 100 mark in medals in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in China. He said “My greetings to all the athletes on behalf of 140 crore Indians. They are an inspiration for the sportspersons of the future”. He said that in the history of 72 years of Asian Games our athletes this time broke many records and made many new Asian records also. In athletics 29 medals , in shooting 22 medals are new records. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur further said “PM Modi's vision and the facilities provided by him, and the hard work and determination of our players made sure that India won 100 medals. I salute all sportspersons for making history in these Asian Games.”
He also said hockey team performed very well in the Asian games and this will help in going in with confidence in the future tournaments. He said that PM Modi said the slogan of “Kheloge toh Khiloge” and said that by changing the thought process and by providing facilities results will come and this is happening today.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railway operates 468 “Shramik Special” trains till 11th May, 2020  across the country
Passengers are being given free meals and water
Trains being run by Railways only after concurrence is given both by the State which is sending the passengers and the State which is receiving them
Social distancing being observed
Around 1200 passengers travel in each of these “Shramik Special” trains
Subsequent to the Ministry of Home Affairs order regarding movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains,Indian Railways had decided to operate “Shramik Special” trains.
As on 11th May 2020, a total of 468 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalized from various states across the country, in which 363 trains had reached its destination and 105 trains are in transit.
These 363 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh , Bihar , Himachal Pradesh , Jharkhand , Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra , Odisha , Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh , West Bengal, Tamil Nadu .
These trains have ferried migrants to cities like Tiruchchirappalli, Titlagarh, Barauni, Khandwa, Jagannathpur, Khurda Road, Prayagraj, Chhapra, Balia, Gaya, Purnia, Varanasi, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Hatia, Basti, Katihar, Danapur,Muzzaffarpur, Saharsa etc.
In these Shramik Special Trains, maximum around 1200 passengers can travel observing social distancing. Proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Heat Wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Gujarat state, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal for next 24 hours
Heat Wave Conditions observed in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, coastal Odisha, Saurashtra & Kutch
Highest maximum température of 43.3°C was reported at Rajkot  Yesterday
According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department :
Current Temperature Status and Warning for next 24 hours
Heat Wave and Maximum Temperatures Observed Yesterday 
Heat Wave observed:
- Yesterday, Heat Wave conditions were observed in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, coastal Odisha and Saurashtra & Kutch.
Maximum Temperatures:
- Maximum Temperatures more than 40.0°C were recorded at most places over Rajasthan, East Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha; at many places over East Madhya Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Odisha and at isolated places over Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada, Telangana and Gangetic West Bengal.
- Maximum Temperature Departures as on 26-04-2021: Maximum temperatures were markedly above normal  at most places over Assam & Meghalaya; at many places over Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura and at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim; appreciably above normal  at a few places over Gengetic West Bengal, East Bihar, coastal Odisha, Saurashtra & Kutch and Konkan & Goa; above normal  at many places over Uttarakhand and Gujarat Region; at a few places over Himachal Pradesh and at isolated places over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit Baltistan & Muzaffarabad, Punjab, West Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, rest Gengetic West Bengal and South Interior Karnataka. They were below normal  at many places over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh; at a few places over North Interior Karnataka and Tamilnadu, Puducherry & Karaikal and at isolated places over East Madhya Pradesh and near normal over rest parts of the country.
- Yesterday, the highest maximum temperature of 43.3°C was reported at Rajkot .
Heat Wave Warnings for Next 24 hours :
- Heat wave conditions very likely in isolated pockets over Gujarat state, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal.

Kindly download MAUSAM APP for location specific forecast & warning, MEGHDOOT APP for Agromet advisory and DAMINI APP for Lightning Warning & visit state MC/RMC websites for district wise warning.
Ministry of Finance
9th Edition of the Status Paper on Government Debt
The Central Government today released the Ninth Edition of the Status Paper on the Government Debt, which provides a detailed analysis of the Overall Debt Position of the Government of India. The Central Government has been bringing-out a Status Paper on Government Debt since 2010-11.
This document enhances transparency by providing a detailed account of debt operations during the year. It covers details of the financing operations of fiscal deficit of the Central Government during the year 2018-19. Government’s Debt Portfolio is characterised by a prudent risk profileand the Government is primarily resorting to market linked borrowings for financing its fiscal deficit. Conventional indicators of debt sustainability, i.e., Debt/GDP ratio, interest payment to revenue receipts, shares of short-term Debt/ External Debt/ FRBs in total debt,are analysed in the document in a comprehensive manner. The document also contains Debt Management Strategy of the Central Government for the financial years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 which will guide the borrowing plan of the Government.
The Status paper is available on the Ministry of Finance’s website: https://dea.gov.in/public-debt-management
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Relief and Rehabilitation Package for Families affected by Polavaram Irrigation project
Land acquisition and rehabilitation & resettlement  works of Polavaram irrigation project  are being carried out by the Government of Andhra Pradesh . According to the GoAP, in PIP, a total of 1,06,006 project displaced families  have been identified for rehabilitation in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Upto December, 2013, R&R package being provided for the displaced families of PIP was in accordance with the R&R 2005 policy of Government of Andhra Pradesh  which entitled each PDF of PIP to receive Rs 2.83 lakh, along with the house site. The said policy also provisioned for land–to–land to scheduled caste/ scheduled tribes  PDFs.
However, January, 2014 onwards, R&R package is being provided as per Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement  Act, 2013 . According to the Act, R&R package for SC/ST PDFs of PIP comes to Rs. 6.86 lakh, while for the other PDFs of PIP, the package is Rs. 6.36 lakh. In addition, house site is also to be given to all PDFs of PIP.
The Act also provides that those persons losing land and belonging to SC/ST will be provided land equivalent to land acquired, or two and a one-half acres, whichever is lower. In addition, GoAP has sanctioned an additional R&R package so that each displaced family of PIP receives total R&R package of Rs. 10 lakh, including the above-mentioned entitlements under this Act.
This information was given by the Minister of State, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Sports Minister sanctions a special financial assistance of Rs.5 lakhs for former International Archer Limba Ram.
Minister of State  Youth Affairs and Sports Col Rajyavardhan Rathore has sanctioned a special financial assistance of Rs.5 lakhs to former International Archer & Arjun Awardee Shri Limba Ram. Shri Limba Ram, who is suffering from neuro generative disease or neurological illness is undergoing treatment at Jaipur. He is working for the State Government of Rajasthan and is in receipt of salary beyond the ceiling of Rs.4 lakhs fixed under the scheme of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons. The Minister in his capacity as Chairperson of the Fund, has relaxed the condition and by invoking the discretionary clause sanctioned Rs.5 Lakhs considering that his widowed mother, widowed sister and her children, widowed mother-in-law and unemployed brother are dependent on him.
Earlier, on getting the news of Shri Limba Ram’s admission in a hospital, the Minister had deputed a team of officers to visit and enquire if any assistance is required. The sanctioned amount is based on the report of this Committee. The Minister has also asked his officers to regularly visit him and update on his health.